WOOTTON FINISHES WELL IN JAPAN AFTER 200kph COLLISION
NOVEMBER 3, 2009: Australian Formula BMW Junior, Chris Wootton has had
everything bar the kitchen sink thrown at him during the penultimate
event of the Formula BMW Pacific season at Okayama in Japan, but has
fought back and recorded some decent results.
After qualifying fifth, just 0.3 from pole position, Chris' first
race of the weekend was marred by an incident with team-mate Axcil
Jefferies on the opening lap. The 20-year-old Queenslander was speared
off the track at nearly 200 kilometres an hour by the Zimbabwean.
With the rest of the field threading their way around the stricken
Eurasia Motorsport machine, Wootton was able to keep motoring and re-join
the race.
The ridiculous and unnecessary incident dropped the Australian to the
rear of the field, whilst Jefferies tried to recover and ultimately
watched the rest of the event from the sidelines after finding the path
of yet another competitor.
Chris aggressively fought his way through the field to greet the
chequered flag in ninth placing, his Eurasia Motorsport team praising the
maturity displayed in his drive.
With that behind him, Chris focused on race two -- the penultimate
race in Formula BMW Pacific for 2009.
Wet conditions blanketed the Okayama circuit (formerly known as Aida) for
the race day, which doubled as the latest round of the World Touring Car
Championship and Asian Le Mans Series.
After getting up to third placing, Chris was tracking well for his second
podium of season 2009, until he struck trouble, getting off track and
dropping back through the field.
Re-joining toward the rear, it was familiar territory for the Australian
as he put on a great display of wet weather driving to cross the line
eighth.
With numerous guest drivers taking part, Wootton was awarded fifth
placing points for both races this weekend.
The final event of the 2009 season will take place in support to the time
honoured Macau Grand Prix in a few weeks time.
BEHIND THE HELMET: CHRIS WOOTTON
"Once again a pretty frustrating weekend. I felt probably the best
that I have done all year. I worked hard before this race in the gym and
I could feel the benefit of it straight away.
"To get taken out by your team-mate -- particularly at 200
kilometres an hour -- is not only dangerous but downright stupid. I
was in shock, I couldn't believe it, but just had to get back on
with the job.
"I was pretty aggressive in working my way back through the field
and by the end of the race was starting to enjoy it. I wish I
didn't have to do it though.
"The Eurasia Motorsport team and my engineer, Greg Wheeler dealt
with the situation fabulously and they made it a lot easier than it
otherwise would have been.
"Today, we were tracking for a podium finish, but I just got
crossed up and went off track. It was really wet, almost typhoon like
conditions they were saying, which made it very difficult to stay on the
track. On top of that, visibility was very ordinary.
"No excuses though, the podium was there, but it wasn't to
be.
"Next up is Macau. It's a really tough event with very
limited track time, so you have to make every post a winner from the very
first time you hit the track.
"We need a lucky break -- ending the season on a high would be
very nice for all of us!"
-credit: cw
